Universal joint



E. H. WEBB.

UNIVERSAL JOINT. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 6. 19:9.

1 ,388,225 Patented Aug. 23, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- E. H WEBB.

UNIVERSAL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.6, 1919.

1,388,225, Patented Aug. 23, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

14 f/arneys UNITED STATES PATENT orrlca.

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umv'ansu. JOINT.

'newand useful Improvements in Universal Joints, ofwhich the following is a full, clear,

and exact description.

This invention relates to universal joints or shaft couplings; i. e., to couplings whereby a torque may be transmitted from one intermediate 5 0 shaft to another and which permits the angle between the axes of said shafts to vary.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a coupling in which the weight of the parts is carried and the end thrustand pull is carried by surfaces other than those which transmit the torque.

.Another object is to provide a coupling or joint which I is comparatively simple, consisting of a few members or parts which may be easily assembled.

A furthe object is to provide a shaft coupling in which the torque is transmitted through a series of balls. Other objects and advantages will appear as the inventionis hereinafter disclosed.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate what I now consider preferred forms of my invention: a

Figure 1 is, a longitudinal sectional elevation of one form of universal coupling.

Fi 2 and 3 are respectivelya side and end 5:: ation of the intermediate socket element shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. end elevation of the second socket member shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a modification.

Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively side and end elevations of the socket member shown in Fig 6.

igs. 9 and 10 are similar views to Figs. 7 and 8 but illustrate the ball member shown in Fig. 6. I

' The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1'to 5 com soc et and a second socket member 3. Except where it is joined by the stub shaft 4 the surface of the member'l is spherical. The mem- 3 Application filed December a, 1919, Serial No. 343,043.

4 and 5 are respectively a side and p rises a ball member 1, an element or member 2,

rivets 'the flanges a key to enter a key-way 8 in the socket mem- I Specification of Letters Patent. Patfited Aug. 23, 1921;

ber v2'is in the form of a solid bounded by two concentric spherical surfaces of different radii, the lesser radius bein much greater than the radius 0 the ball member 1 as is necessary to permit free rotative movement of the latter with respect to the intermediate socket when seated within said member 2. "The socket member 3 is provided with a stub shaft 5 and the exterior thereof may be of any desired con figuration. The interiorsurface of the socket member 3 is a spherical surface of radius only so much greater than that of the extenor surface of the member 2' as is necessary to permit free rotative movement of only so.

the latter with respect to the socket memher 3.

The spherical surfaces, above mentioned do not form complete spheresas an opening must be left for the shaft 4: but inorder to cause the end pull as well as the end thrust to be carried by said surfaces the said sur faces are made greater than ahemisphere,

as clearly shown in Fig. 1. This necessitates.

some arrangement whereby the parts may be assembled. Furthermore, the oint as thus far described is vincapable of transmitting torque. In'order to. ermit assembly of the parts and to provi' e torque transmitting means the structure illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 may be employed. The socket element 2 is provided w th an inwardly projecting key 6 adapted to seat in a key way formed in the ball member 1. This key andits keyway are arc-shaped and so designed as to ermit relative movement of the members 1 and 2 about the axis X-X passing through the center of the ball 1 but all other relative movement of said members 1 and 2 is prevented either by the key and key-way or by the spherical bearing surfaces of said I members. The member 2 is constructed of two symmetrical sections 2 and .2 which abut on aplane normal to the plane of the ke 6. Any suitable means may be provi ed for securing the sections 2, 2 together after the socket. Thus eachsection may be provided with a flange, the flanges 7 7, being riveted together. By countersinking the 7, 7, may be employedas the ball 1 has been entered inher a It will benoted that the key 7 will permit relative movement of the members 2, 3, about an axis at right angles to the axes XX and of the shaft 5 but all other relative movement of said members 2, 3 is prevented. For'the purpose of assembly the member 3 is constructed of two symmetrical sections 3, 3 joined by riveting flanges 9, 9 together after the member 2 is entered.

The stub shafts 4 and 5 may be connected to other shafts by any suitable means. Either of the shafts 4, 5 may constitute the driving element and the other the driven elei ment.

The driving shaft will transmit torque to the driven shaft through the keys and key-ways through a wide variation of 1 the coupling.

The keys 6 and 7 may each be replaced by one or more series of balls in whlch event the socket-element2 may be dispensed with.-

In Figs. 6 to 10 I have shown a form of universal shaft coupling in which the ball member 10 is provided with a plurality of eripheral grooves 21 forming race-ways.

he planes of these grooves are parallel to each other, and to the axis of the stub shaft 14. The socket member 13, composed of two s mmetrical sections 13, 13", joined by rivets at the flanges 19, 19, is also provided with a series of grooves 22 forming raceways. The planes of the grooves 22 are parallel to each other and. to the axis of the stub shaft 15. By making the radius of the inner spherical surface of the socket member 13" reater than the radius of the spherical sur ace of the ball member v10 only by an amount suflicient to permit relative rotation of said members 10 and 13, large bearing.

surfaces are provided for assuming a large portion of the load other than the driving torque. Driving torque may be transmitted from one of the shafts 14, 15 to the other through a plurality of balls mounted as hereinafter described.=

One methodof assembling the last men tiened form of the invention is as follows: A plurality of balls 25 are mounted in the grooves 21, the number of balls in each groove corresponding to the number of rooves 22 in the socket member 13. These alls should be spaced as nearly as practicable in a series of parallel rows, each row being at right angles to the grooves 21 and each row being spaced from its adjacent row by an amount equal to the distance between While a cage might be provided to hold the balls 25 in this relative arrangement'I' prefer to hold them in position temporarily by means ofa heavy grease. The two separate sections 13, 13, may then be placed around the ball member 10 with the grooves 21. There will then be a ball 25 at each intersection of a groove 22 with a groove 21 and the flanges 19 may thus be riveted together. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that rotation of one of the shafts 14, 15 will cause rotation .of the other, the driving torque being transmitted through the balls 25. Furthermore, the angle between the axes of the said shafts may be varied considerably without in any way disturbing the transmission of this torque.

I It will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to further modification. For example, instead of employing a ball 25 at each intersection of race-ways the numberof balls may be materially reduced. Thus a ball 25 may be placed only at each of those intersections whichin diametrically opposed by another intersection. In this way the thrust due to the tendency of the balls 25 to hop out of the race-ways, when acting as ke s, is counterbalanced.

atI claim is 1. A universal shaft coupling comprising in combination, a ball member, a socket member. therefor, the outer surface of said ball member being provided with race-ways, and the inner surface of said socket member being provided with race-ways which intersect the first mentioned race-ways, and balls at the intersection of at least some of said a in combination, a driving member and a driven member one of which at least partially surrounds the other, the inner surface of the outer member being provided with a race-way and the outer surface of the inner member being provided with a plurality of race-ways which intersect the first mentioned race-Way, and a plurality of balls in said first mentioned race-way and each lying in a corresponding one of said race-ways which intersect the first mentioned race-way.

' 3. A universal shaft coupling comprising in combination, a driving member and a driven member one of which at least partially surrounds the other, the outer surface of the inner member being provided with a race-way and the inner surface of the outer member being provided witha plurality of race-ways which intersect the 'first mentioned raceway, and a plurality of balls in said first mentioned race-way and each lying in a corresponding one of the said race-ways which intersect the first mentioned race-way.

4. A universal shaft coupling comprising in combination, a driving member and a- 1,ass,22a a driven member one of which at least parintersection of at least some of said racetially surrounds the other, the inner surface ways, each of said race-ways containing aof the outer member being rovided with a plurality of such balls. plurality of race-ways and t e outer surface In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my 5 of the inner member being provided with a. signature.

glurality of race-ways which intersect the rst mentioned race-ways, and balls at the ERNEST H. WEBB. 

